Mail-catcher.



L. W. SPRINGSTEIN.

MAIL GATGHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1913.

1,1 30,035. Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

m l IIIIIIIIIfi/IIIIIIIIIIJ J nome o NORRIS PETERS 00., PHOTO-LITHL WASHING TON, D. C

L. W. SPRINGSTEIN.

MAIL GATGHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1913.

Patented Mar. 2, 19175.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

axabnemo THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHO'IEiITHQ, WASHINGTON. 0. c.

UNITED sirairizs PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER W. SPRINGSTEIN, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ADELBERT E. BENEDICT, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

MAIL-CATCHER.

Application filed November 1, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LUTHER W. SPRING- s'rnm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, in the county of Brooms and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail bag receiving mechanism and it has for its primary objectthev provision of mechanism for re' ceiving the bag in a manner which will positively prevent damage to the contents of the bag while in action.

Another object of the invention is the provision of mechanism of this character in which the receiving arm will be provided with means to prevent the accidental derangement therefrom of the bag instantly on receipt of the latter and which will consist of a member which will be actuated through its direct contact with the bag.

A further object of the invention is the provision of mechanism of this character which will serve to completely house or inclose the bag immediately on its receipt so as to prevent the bag being tampered with by any one excepting an authorized agent.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an inclosure having an opening therein at one side and a swinging receiving arm mounted within the inclosure and adapted to be adjusted to a receiving position beyond the opening, and further the provision of mechanism which will be actuated directly through movement of the receiving arm for respectively holding the closure in opened and closed positions.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrange ment of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :F igure 1 is a horizontal section through a portion of a car, showing the application of the invention thereto and illustrating the receiving arm in a receiving position; Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the receiving mechanism by means of which the bag may be received from a moving car; Fig. 5 is a vertical section therethrough; Fig. 6 is a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

Serial No. 798,723.

vertical section through a portion of the roller, showing the return spring for moving the door to aclosedposition.

With a View to providing bag receiving mechanism which will be operable to receive the bag ina manner which will prevent or minimize the possibility of its contents being injuredduring the receiving operation; one wherein the bag will be held positively against accidental derangement from the receiving means after collected thereby; and, further, means which will automatically operate to eifect a total or absolute inclosure of the bag after it has been taken up or collected by the receiving meins, I employ an inclosure A as shown in Fig. 1, which may be in the nature of a carrier such as an ordinary railway car or other form of traveling coach, or a form of inclosure B such as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and which is designed to form a substitute for or to replace the well known form of stationary mail cranes commonly employed for the purpose of receiving the bag from a moving vehicle or car.

As the invention, when broadly construed is designed for the above specified purposes, it may be specifically described, when referonce is taken to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6 of the drawing that the inclosure A representing an ordinary railway car is provided at one side with the usual door opening C. Rising from the floor of the car are standards 1, 1 of identical construction, arranged with such regard to the opening 0 whereby to permit the standard to be interchangeably connected with bag receiving means and to support the latter in a position that may be necessary to a collection of the bag, according to the direction of movement of the car. As the standards 1 are of identical formation it is thought thata description of one will suiiice for both and with detailed reference to Fig. 1 it is seen that the standard to the right is provided with a slot 2 in which is fitted the reduced stem 3 upon the arm 4 of bag receiving means 5. The standard has its opposite ends respectively mounted in portions 5 and 6 of the car structure whereby the standard is free for rotation. This is desirable, and in fact necessary inorder that the receiving means as a whole may be projected into the inclosure or car A when the bight 12. A retainer of substantially it is desired to effect a total housing or concealment ofthe bag after the latter is're cei ed.

The arm 4 is disposed in a horizontal position and its attaching end 3 is secured to' the standard 1 by means of asuitable retaining pin 7 or the equivalent thereof which is adapted to be passed through a passage 8 inthestandard which is intercepted by the passage 2. member 7 is provided with a removable cotter pin or the like 9, whereby said member is held in an applied position. At the .outer receiving or collecting end the arm V-form is pivoted at 13 to the arm 4 at a point contiguous of the branch 10 and as shown said retainer is provided with a curved branch or arm 14, which is adapted to be initially extended over the open. end of the fork, as shown in Fig. 1, where it will be directly located in the path of the bag, as will be appreciated. The other arm 15 At one endthe shank of the of the retainer is located with such relation to the arm or branch 14 that when the latter spansor extends over the receiving end of the fork the terminal of the arm 15 will define with the terminal 16 of the branch 11 of the fork, a substantially flared passage so as not to interfere with the bag on its movement into the fork. WVhen the bag contacts with the branch 14 of the container it obviously appears that the retainer will assume the dotted position shown in Fig. 1,

so that the branch 15 of the retainer will close the open end of the fork and confine pin 18 bears yieldingly against theupper surface ofthe retainer at thevertex of the arms 14 and 15 and under the action of the spring 17, the retainer will be positively held in theactive fullline position shown in Fig. 1. In other words there is sufficient friction between the parts mentioned to prevent the retainer casually moving to a position other than that intended priorto 'receiving'the bag. Ordinarily or without providing the means. above referred to for the purpose specified, the vibrations of the car might tend to cause the retainer to shift from its intended position, as will be understood. i

The arm 4 is adapted through its impact with the bag to be moved completely into the car andas illustrated the car is provided with a. horizontally sliding door or closure 22'which is adapted to be automatically moved to a position to close the opening C on the instant that the arm 4 ismoved'into the car and entirely through the opening C. In order to effect this automatic closing of the door I provide the car with a roller 23 having one end of a flexible connection 24 connected therewith, while the opposite end of the connection is secured at 25 to the door. The roller is provided with a spring tensioned or controlled pintle 26 by means of which the roller will tend normally to revolve in one direction and to thereby cause the connection 24 to be wound on the of the standard. At this time it may bementioned that the standard is of rectanguthe bag against the bight of the fork and in such manner that will positively prevent accidental derangement of the bag.

It is desirable to hold the retainer in a closed position after. it has been actuated by the bag as previously mentioned and in view thereof I provide a locking device therefor which consists preferably of a flat spring 17 secured to the arm 4 and provided at its free end with a fixed pin 18. This pin moves I in a passage 19 in the arm and when theretainer is adjusted to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 the said pin is designed to repose automatically in a recess 20 formed in the retainer at the vertex between the branches Hand 15. is provided with a stoppin or lug 21, against which the free terminal of the branch 14 isadapted to engage as shown in full lines in Fig.1. It is described that the The fork of the arm 4' lar form in transverse section so as to provide flat sides against which the spring 27. is adapted to bear. The free end of the spring extends slightly beyond the adjacent side of the standard so that one corner of the standard will be advanced against the spring and on movement of the standard respectively to active and inactive positions the spring will be moved laterally or with relation to the adjacent side of the car. This last-named arrangement is desired for the reason that I have employed locking means for holding the door '22 respectively in opened and closed positions. The locking means now referred to is in the form of a sliding bolt 29 which is adapted to engage in a keeper recess or notch 30 formed in the door and to thereby hold the door in the openedposition shown ingFig. 1. 'The bolt is positioned with suchregard to the" adjacent side of the door opening O, that when the door is closed the bolt will engage against the adjacent edge of the door and thereby hold the same against being opened from the out side. From the inside the bolt may be released by simply swinging the arm 4 manually so as to cause sufficient movement to be imparted to the spring 27 that is necessary to retract the bolt.

Now that the details of the described embodiment of the invention are specifically mentioned it is stated that under the impact of the bag against the arm l the latter will be instantly moved into the car or inclosure and immediately thereupon the bolt 29 will be controlled and under the action of the spring roller 23 the connection 24 will be wound upon the roller and door 22 moved to its closed position. The bag is then held in a completely inclosed or housed state and cannot be tampered with fraudulently by persons from the outside.

While the receiving mechanism may be advantageously used in conection with mail coaches or like traveling vehicles I desire that it be understood that I also contemplate using the same as a substitute for the well known form of crane, therefore, and with detailed reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing I provide an inclosure B hereinbefore mentioned and at one side I form therein an opening 31 over which is adapted to move a vertically sliding door 32. The standard l which supports the receiving arm 4 is identical with that previously referred to. A roller 23 which is substantially identical with the roller 23 is also employed and provided with a connection 33 secured at 34 to the door at the bottom thereof. The door is provided with a keeper opening 35 which is adapted to receive a swinging spring-pressed locking dog or bolt 36 so that the door will be held normally against the spring action of the roller 23 The dog 36 has connected therewith one end of a link 37, the opposite end of the link having connection with one end of a rocking lever 38. The free end of the lever extends across one of the flat faces of the standard 1 and slightly beyond the adjacent side of the standard, as shown in Fig. 4, thus it will be seen that when the standard is rotated under the swinging action of the receiving arm P to an inactive position the said lever 38 will be rocked and the link 37 drawn upon in such manner that will necessitate an operative release of the dog 36 from the keeper opening 35 in the sliding door. In this form of sliding door I provide the inclosure, at

a point above the door opening with a swinging keeper or bolt 39 which is adapted to engage in a keeper recess 40 formed in the door near the upper end thereof. This dog or bolt is connected by a cable 41 and the latter may be run over a guide pulley s2 and then extended to a point in the inclosure where it may be readily grasped by the hand and pull applied thereto so as to tilt the bolt or dog 29 and render the same inactive in order that the door 32 may be opened. At the opposite sides the inclosure is provided with a swinging door 43 of any suitable well known form by means of which a lawful agent may enter the inclosure in order to receive the bag collected or to adjust the mechanism as the occasion may demand. It is obviously understood that the closure 43 may be held in a closed position by a suitable form of lock 44. The inclosure B is preferably constructed of metal or other fire-proof and burglar proof material and it is also designed whereby to protect the bag and its contents from the elements.

I claim A mail bag receiving apparatus comprising an inclosure having an opening, a movable closure for the opening, a rotary stand ard arranged within the inclosure and having fiat faces, a mail bag catcher arm carried by the standard and adapted to be projected through the opening, means for tensioning the closure for automatically moving the same for closing the opening, a lock for holding the closure open or closed, a trip member displaced by the flat faces on the standard when rotated and having connection with the lock for operating the same and also for holding the standard in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LUTHER W. SPRINGSTEIN.

IVitnesses:

JAMES A. KOEHL, BENNETT S. J ONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

